Tag Archives: Lyon Co. KY

When I was a kid, I thought it would be neat to be an archaeologist. I suppose that is why I find some of the remains of “past civilizations” fascinating in the Land Between The Lakes. But the society that is evident in LBL today was from 50 years ago, not 5,000… a period which most archaeologists might enjoy. In fact, many people remember what it used to be like in LBL before TVA took over. But for folks like me, we don’t have the memories… but we see the evidence and hear the stories.

St. Stephen’s Church in Land Between The Lakes is historically significant because it is only one of a handful of the known original remaining buildings in LBL. The church was built in 1900 by German Americans seeking a place to worship. The final service was held in 1945. For the next 18 years, the church sat vacant next to the church’s cemetery.

A few weeks ago, Lisa Trimble, a Facebook fan of Four Rivers Explorer, sent me a photo of an old abandoned school bus in Land Between The Lakes.

I asked Lisa regarding the whereabouts of the bus and she gave me some good information on how to find it. The location is a popular hunt for geocachers and actually has a name on geocaching.com – Homer’s Garage.

The breaker wall which lies on top of old US 62/641 and the Illinois Central Railroad

When Lake Barkley reaches winter pool each fall, the remains of Old Kuttawa, Kentucky emerge. A thriving town of several hundred in the early part of the 20th century, a good part of the old city is now buried under the waters of Lake Barkley.

Old Kuttawa called the Cumberland River its home, fixed on its northern shores. Founded right after the Civil War in 1866 by Ohio Governor Charles Anderson, who served a short five-month term as the head of the state, the origin of the town’s name is disputed.

In the mid-1800s, the iron ore industry exploded in the area known as “Between the Rivers.” With its prime location due to its close proximity to the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, the industry flourished. These rivers were the best way to transport goods since railroads did not exist in this area at that time.

It’s no secret that Land Between The Lakes (LBL) is an adventurer’s playground. Opportunities for hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, camping and exploring abound. Honker Lake is one of the most scenic spots in LBL, offering beautiful views year around and chances to see the area’s abundant wildlife.

We can’t get enough of historical photos, especially those that show such drastic change. Recently we found these photos on the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Flickr album. We selected three of our favorites, but you can see the entire album on their Flickr.